THANK YOU to everyone who visited me along the book trail, posted online reviews, and recommended my books to your friends!
It is readers like YOU who helped my first novel Bird’s Eye View hit The Globe & Mail’s bestseller list! For more info, click here: Bird’s Eye View.
My novel Wildwood, released in 2018, was listed IN Kobo’s top hundred Canadian books of all times! For more info, click here: Wildwood.
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THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT PREVIOUS BOOK EVENTS . . .
For Remembrance Day 2019, I visited Windermere Elementary School and spoke to the student body, Grades One to Seven, about Children on the Home Front.
At the Christmas Craft Sale in Invermere, B.C. on December 1, 2018, my granddaughter Nora, aged 5, sold her handmade bookmarks and gift tags at my signing table. It was so nice to have her company!
I made a return visit to the Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners on October 12, 2018. Here I am with one of the organizers, Pat Hogan.
At the tiny Breton Municipal Library in Alberta on October 10, I met this bright young woman Chelsea Hagen, who wants to be a writer herself!
I spoke to about 100 people at the exciting literary festival in St. Albert called STARFest, sponsored by the St. Albert Public Library, on October 9, 2018.
At Red Deer Chapters on October 6, 2018, I caught up with an old friend, former Red Deer librarian Paula Lefaivre.
Two young women who serve as “Peachland Ambassadors” welcomed visitors to my book event at the Peachland Art Gallery on September 14, 2018. The three of us were dressed in similar vintage outfits!
Kim Schlieper and her husband valiantly rode their motorcycles all the way from Victoria on September 1, 2018 to have their books signed and say hello during my visit to Chapters Nanaimo!
I made a colourful splash at Chapters Chinook in Calgary on July 14, 2018.
The book club at the Melfort Public Library took me out for dinner on June 13, 2018. Thanks so much, ladies!
Margaret Wasmuth, who farms near Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, visited me at the North Battleford Public Library on June 9, 2018.
I was thrilled that Yvonne Wildman, one of the RCAF veterans in my anthology titled My Favourite Veterans, made it to my book event at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on June 7, 2018.
A small but enthusiastic crowd turned out for my presentation at the public library in Peace River, Alberta, on May 31, 2018.
Karlee Kapler came down to Coles in Grande Prairie, Alberta on May 26, 2018 for her signed copy, since she had already read and loved Wildwood.
About 50 people turned out for my book talk, sponsored by the Canmore Seniors’ Association in Alberta, on April 23, 2018.
There was a very enthusiastic crowd at the Cochrane Public Library on April 19, 2018 for my slide show and talk. Thank you, Cochrane!
Elementary school teacher Kenzie MacAskill of Calgary dropped by Café Books in Canmore on April 1, 2018 to have her copy signed.
Truck driver Lance Norman of Calgary bought three copies of Wildwood at Chapters Chinook on March 31, 2018 — one for his mother, one for his aunt, and one for himself!
Adorable little Evelyn MacDonald, aged 3, came to visit me at Coles in Cranbrook, B.C. on March 24, 2018.
My new novel Wildwood was launched on March 18, 2018 at the historic Pynelogs Art Gallery in Invermere, B.C. In keeping with the book’s historic theme, my daughter Katie and I are wearing our best pioneer-inspired outfits.
It was a packed room at the Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners on November 10, 2017, and what a great crowd!
It was a great honour to be the featured author in September 2017, at the annual Kootenay Book Weekend in beautiful Nelson, B.C. Read more here: www.kootenaybookweekend.ca
It was a beautiful day for my local Invermere Farmers’ Market on July 22, 2017.
Jean Burdette Young, formerly of Battleford, drove from her home in Nanaimo, B.C. to have her book signed at the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market on May 20, 2017. Thanks, Jean!
It was a great treat to meet Patricia Sandberg, author of Sun Dogs and Yellowcake (describing the history of uranium mining in Saskatchewan) when I spoke to the monthly meeting of the Canadian Authors group in Vancouver on May 10, 2017.
I presented my NEW slide show at the International Friendship Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on February 23, 2017. Here I am describing the stories of six brave gentlemen whom I interviewed for my book, My Favourite Veterans: True Stories From World War Two’s Hometown Heroes.
My local Christmas Craft Market in Invermere is always a fun event. This year on December 3, 2016, even the Grinch showed up!
I was interviewed by Elizabeth Heinz, host of a television program called Head On, produced by Shaw Cable in Nanaimo, B.C., and broadcast throughout Vancouver Island in September 2016. To watch, click here: Head On.
I spoke to two book clubs combined in Campbell River, B.C. on September 14, 2016. My mother June Florence accompanied me to this wonderful event, organized by Patricia Ashmead, wearing her 1940s vintage apron!
It was quite a thrill to meet John Haysom at Chapters Bayers Lake in Halifax on June 25, 2016, because his father served as a photo interpreter at RAF Medmenham, the setting for my novel!
I was up bright and early to be interviewed by Paul Brothers, host of The Morning Show, Global TV in Halifax, on June 24, 2016.
Gehana Booth dressed in her vintage outfit to meet me at Chapters Rideau in Ottawa on June 16, 2016. She cried when she told me how much she loved my book! Surely there can be no higher praise.
I met Maureen Whitehead of Calgary, who had already read and “loved” my book, at Cafe Books in Canmore on April 30, 2016.
I had the great pleasure of attending the Windermere Gentlemen’s Reading Society in Invermere on April 11, 2016. Men enjoy my book, too!
Author Kristina Stanley, who has written two ski resort mysteries called Descent and Blaze; and Julie McDonald, who wrote Kidding Around in the Columbia Valley, joined me at Panorama Mountain Village for a joint event on December 12, 2015.
I spoke about my book at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 in Invermere on December 11, 2015. John Ashby of Invermere, a former photographic interpreter (like the heroine in my novel) brought along his stereoscope to show me!
I joined ten other Kootenay Authors at Lotus Books in Cranbrook, B.C. on December 5, 2015. Here I am with Amanda Lamb (Disaster in Paradise) and Bill Roberts (The Best Miners in the World).
I really enjoyed meeting folks in the beautiful School House Gallery in Peachland, B.C. on Saturday, November 21, 2015. Jointly hosted by the Peachland Arts Council and the Peachland Public Library, the event had a crowd of sixty with wine and cheese afterwards.
Jessica Cangiano of Penticton wore her wartime vintage outfit to meet me at the Penticton Public Library on November 21, 2015.
There was a nice crowd for my presentation at the tiny but adorable Midway Public Library in Midway, B.C. on November 20, 2015.
Pam Moro and her mother Mary Collver came to hear my book talk at the Rose Wood Village in Trail, B.C. on November 18, courtesy of the Trail & District Public Library.
The Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, Alberta, hosted me on September 20, 2015 where I spoke to a packed room. My slide show always begins with the inspiration for my book, my dear mother June Florence.
My Winnipeg cousins turned out in full force at McNally Robinson on August 21, 2015.
My cousin Linda Selinger joined me when I spoke at the Commonwealth Air Museum in Brandon, Manitoba on August 19, 2015.
Former Western Producer colleague Joanne Skidmore dropped in for a visit at Chapters in Regina on August 15, 2015.
Janine Lacoursiere made Bird’s Eye View her “Staff Pick” at Coles Midtown Plaza in Saskatoon on August 13.
The staff at Chapters Nanaimo are the nicest people. Here I am with manager Tim Purtle at my book signing on July 25, 2015.
It’s always lovely when people invite me to their home. Joyce Daman of Qualicum Beach hosted a gathering of friends at her beautiful oceanside home on July 22, 2015.
It was a thrill to meet Jasmine Ramratan at Indigo Books in Edmonton on July 2, 2015. She bought five copies of my book for her friends, since she works with RCAF 9 Wing at CFB Gander, Newfoundland.
My cousin Alexandra Westman showed up at my bookstore signing in Whitehorse, Yukon, at a lovely little independent bookstore called Mac’s Fireweed Books. I was there on June 6, 2015 — the anniversary of D-Day.
Kim Schlieper, a reader of my blog Wartime Wednesdays, came to my book signing event at Coles in Victoria, B.C. on May 23, 2015. Since it was also my birthday, she even brought me a card and a cake!
When signing books at Mulberry Bush Book Store in Parksville, B.C. on May 2, 2015, I met this English couple named Chris and Susan Hood. Chris’s grandfather Thomas Hayter served as a Squadron Leader at RAF Medmenham, the setting for my novel!
It was an honour to meet Ruth Nesbitt at Indigo Books, West Vancouver on April 25, 2015. She served in the RCAF Women’s Division from 1942 to 1945.
I unveiled my new Powerpoint presentation (slide show) at the Mt. Cheam Probus Club in Chilliwack, B.C. on April 23, 2015. Here’s a shot of me, with a photo of my father Douglas Florence in the background.
Dorothy Constable dropped by to have her book signed at Chapters Strathcona in Edmonton, Alberta, on March 20, 2015.
Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, the official Edmonton Historian and fellow author whose latest book is titled Polar Winds: A Century of Flying the North, dropped by the Strathcona Public Library in Edmonton on March 21, 2015.
Christopher Perkin bought a copy for his grandfather, who lives in Delisle, Saskatchewan, at the Fairmont Ski Resort’s charity fundraiser for the Invermere Public Library on March 7, 2015.
Dee Conklin, owner of CasaVino Wine Bar in Radium Hot Springs, hosted me at my final book event of the year on December 29, 2014.
My mother June Florence, aged 91, my biggest fan and the inspiration for my novel, came to lend moral support at the Invermere Christmas Craft Fair.
Dennis and Alice Lee, at the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives on November 30, 2014.
Veteran Robert Moore, Rebecca Robinson of Life Story Film, and Christina Neale of the Kelowna Museums Association, at the Okanagan Regional Library on Nov. 29, 2014.
Judy Zubrinski, owner of the bookstore Hooked on Books, in Penticton on November 28, 2014.
Cheryl Godin and her grandchildren Kaydence and Rhys came dressed in wartime style to the independent bookstore Lotus Books in Cranbrook on November 22, 2014.
The Invermere Public Library staff dressed in vintage outfits at Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere on November 14, 2014. What a great party!
Cafe Books in Canmore, Alberta was warm and welcoming on a snowy day, November 9, 2014.
Ruth Miller braved the crazy crowds at Chapters, Chinook Mall in Calgary on November 11, 2014.
Young pilot Tegen Dunnill Jones came to the Calgary Women in Aviation meeting on November 19, 2014.
Ray Elphick dropped by to chat at Red Deer Chapters on November 8, 2014. I was there with two other authors — Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, and Anne Gafiuk.
There was a nice crowd at the Red Deer College Library for my book talk with authors Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail and Anne Gafiuk on November 7, 2014.
The lovely new Innisfail Public Library welcomed me on November 6, 2014.
My friend Edith Jesswein invited me to speak at the Forestburg Public Library on November 5, 2014.
My niece Tricia Florence sang wartime tunes to the crowd at my Saskatoon event, at the independent McNally Robinson Books on November 4, 2014.
I had fun with a small group of avid readers in Cut Knife, Saskatchewan at the Afternoon Delight coffee shop, on November 3, 2014.
Doreen Gillis, whose eight older brothers all served in World War Two, came to my event at the independent bookstore Crandleberry’s in North Battleford on November 1, 2014.
The Light boys — my cousins Don Light, Jeff Light and Bob Light — lit up the Fred Light Museum in Battleford, Saskatchewan on October 31, 2014.
Former Winnipeg Sun colleagues Paul Cantin and Linda Williamson showed up at my first-ever book event at the independent bookstore, Type Books in Toronto, on October 27, 2014.